After having done over 2 years of research on bariatric surgery, and months worth on my surgeon options- I found myself very impressed with Dr. Ramos Kelly's qualifications and experience. I verified all the information on his work experience and education (this is essential, as anyone can claim a great professional track record on the internet!). My surgery went great, the staff at his hospital checked on me virtually every hour and were extremely detailed. Beyond all that, I felt cared about. Dr. Kelly visited me at the hotel with his wife and Sara (personal coordinator) early because I was doing great and wanted to take off a day early.

I was happy to refer a good friend who confided her desire to have WLS, I'm so glad my research and experience could allow my friend to have the best WLS ever (in my opinion!) with an extremely skilled surgeon.

A couple weeks ago, ALM called her up and told her that after much deliberation and meeting, that they decided they would no longer be coordinating for Dr. Kelly. Normally, a professional break up wouldn't be alarming- these relationships can go sour all the time, and clearly from some of the things we see on the board, coordinators and coordination services can get quite competitive to downright nasty (not accusing ALM or anyone in particular of that). I'll just say, the honesty track record with coordination services does not seem to always be spotless.

The concerning part is that they indicated their choice to no longer work with Dr. Kelly was due to a safety/practice issue. This struck me as odd- they continued to work with him after his first lost patient in August of 2011, and some of their other Dr.'s they coordinate for don't have the experience or positive track record Dr. Kelly does. I have been operated on by Dr. Kelly merely 2 months ago myself, and though my recovery has gone better than anticipated, I am very concerned if there is something unsafe about the surgery that was done on my new stomach.

They urged my friend to book with a different surgeon with them, but told her she had the option of getting her deposit back if she chose to stay with Dr. Kelly, but that they would not be able to book her with him in good conscience due to an undisclosed safety concern. After talking to me, I told her I didn't want her to wonder what (if any) the safety concern was, and I thought it would be wise to go with one of there other surgeons (Dr. Garcia is who she chose, seems to be a great choice).

Obviously, it can deeply cut into a coordinators business to no longer coordinate for one of your most popular surgeons (dare I say, Dr. Kelly may be the most popular!), I would assume to cut into the $ of your business during this economy, the safety concerns must be quite significant, or the relationship went extremely sour somehow.

I'd like answers. I was operated on by Dr. Kelly not too long ago, and I hope "safety concerns" are merely just something they have chosen to say to assure that they keep the patients they've already booked with him to move to a different surgeon of theirs. I don't want to worry.

My friend pressed them for information, but they made it pretty clear they could only say it was a safety concern and that they wanted to encourage her to book with another surgeon.

My gut tells me my surgery went fine, that Dr. Kelly is a good person and extremely skilled- we have so many happy patients that post on here as it is. At the same time, I don't think a major coordinator like ALM would mislead patients, this would be a detriment to their business as so many of their patients chat on boards like this.

Go on girls now you can band together and get me

Laura, I don't think either understood my post. I was not putting down any surgeon or coordinator. Any surgeon at all! I'm not arguing either.

I just keep reading about this death and it is tragic and my heart truly goes out to her family. That must be terrible. The statistics stand for themselves. There are more deaths happening than people care to believe. I was simply pointing out that Dr Kelly's one much talked about on the forum is likely just a small percentage to the unfortunate reality of bariatric surgery.

I was also pointing out how a head hunting coordinator is unnecessary. From what I understand Dr Kelly and Dr Aceves have both been wise and ditched agencies and multiple coordinators and use secretaries much like Drs do here in the states.

Laura, I don't think either understood my post. I was not putting down any surgeon or coordinator. Any surgeon at all! I'm not arguing either.

I just keep reading about this death and it is tragic and my heart truly goes out to her family. That must be terrible. The statistics stand for themselves. There are more deaths happening than people care to believe. I was simply pointing out that Dr Kelly's one much talked about on the forum is likely just a small percentage to the unfortunate reality of bariatric surgery.

I was also pointing out how a head hunting coordinator is unnecessary. From what I understand Dr Kelly and Dr Aceves have both been wise and ditched agencies and multiple coordinators and use secretaries much like Drs do here in the states.

First off, not all coordinators are "head hunting". Many coordinators, myself included, are in this because we had surgery and it changed our lives. We know what it is to be obese, how confusing the process of choosing a doctor can be, and how important it can be to have someone with you acting on your behalf every step of the way. I am in this because I want others to achieve the same success, health benefits and happiness I have. I care about my patients. We offer care, advice, nutritional information, etc. from start to goal. I don't know about this business of coordinators receiving thousands of dollars for every surgery they book either, that is definitely news to me.

What I am saying is, with surgeons, Medical Tourism and coordinators, there are going to be good ones and bad ones. And, if they have performed enough surgeries, worked with enough patients, etc., there are bound to be some bumps along the way where, tragically, something may go wrong. That doesn't mean they are bad at what they do, and most of them will bend over backwards to correct whatever went wrong, or may have been perceived to go wrong.

Lastly, your statement that Dr. Aceves does not use "agencies" is incorrect, as we work with him.

Susan, I definitely did not mean to hurt your feelings. I'm sure you are good at what you do. You do make a living doing what you do and I'm sure it is thousands of dollars per year.

Maybe I'm just too familiar with our medical system in the US that simply uses secretaries, nutritionists etc that are paid salary or by the time that they work. Personally I think receiving a cut from each patient would cloud your vision, but hey I've been wrong before.

I should have been more clear with what I said. Dr Kelly and Dr Aceves both have the option to schedule with them directly and not go through an agency. I have seen that you do have options to go through agencies with both surgeons.

Once again, I'm sorry if I have offended you. As a lifetime overeater that hasn't eaten for 5 days now I'm cranky and a little cloudy lol. I'll just zip my mouth now

Lol, no worries. And actually, I make my living as a recruiter, my passion is helping others. Hopefully, in the future, I will be able to make my living and my passion doing the same thing.

I'm having surgery with Dr Kelly Monday. I find it amusing how everyone believes that these other surgeons in Mexico have had no deaths. Pull your head out of the sand. The mortality rate for a bariatric surgery excluding the band is 1 in 400. If you truly believe that Dr Aceves or Alvarez have had no deaths you are in major denial. If they have preformed thousands of surgeries they have had deaths. Sure they don't advertise it, but the only reason people know about Dr Kelly's death of a patient is because the deceased patient befriended a member of the boards and they posted it. ALM wouldn't know about a death. I seriously can't believe how many people believe their surgeon who has preformed thousands of surgeries haven't experiences major complications and death in the riskiest population of all. You seriously believe that?

ALM takes thousands of dollars from a surgeon for each booking forcing them to perform more surgeries. If I was a surgeon that has performed almost 7,000 surgeries, has the FACS designation, the American College of Bariatric Surgeons approval/membership I wouldn't pay someone thousands of dollars to schedule me either.

Regardless of whom you choose, do you use a coordinator to schedule with your PCP, cardiologist, ect here in the states. Does your Dr pay someone thousands of dollars to a coordinate and hunt heads? Nope. I've worked in healthcare for a long time and with very few exceptions all of the surgeons I know work in ONE hospital.

I spent a long, long time researching surgeons. I even tried to trick his scheduler Lora into suggesting another surgeon to make sure she wasn't a coordinator. So far it has been a wonderful experience and I have no reason to believe the rest of the experience will be anything but.

Well, my surgery is Monday. My BMI is 49.9 so I could use all the prayers and thoughts that I can get because surgery in my condition is plain risky.

Good luck to you on Monday. I dug up the post I wrote about my surgery with Dr. Kelly on the Gastric Sleeve Forum. Thought you would like to know what's in store. You are going to love the whole experience. Please keep us posted on your surgery. You chose a wonderful surgeon.

Tijuana.html" rel="external nofollow">http://www.gastricsleeve.com/forum/tell-us-about-your-journey-getting-a-gastric-sleeve/10655-day-two-in-tijuana.html

Thanks Andrea! I'm about to have a nervous breakdown! Lol. Not regarding surgeons or coordinators, just traveling thousands of miles from home and having surgery. I still can't believe I leave tomorrow morning! I am excited though I can't believe in a little over 24 hours I'm going to join the wonderful sleevers I've been reading about.

Are you traveling alone or with a friend or family member? If you're staying at the hotel lucerna you're in for a treat. (I think thats where I was). I remember all the delicious smells from the buffet they had every day. All I could eat was soup. But that's ok. I wanted to be thinner and did what it took. You're in excellent hands with Dr Kelly. It'll be over before you know it. Good luck and safe travels. I hope you're not stopping in the Houston airport on your way home. That was a nightmare too. They had all homemade food in the food court and NO JELLO!

My mom is going with me thankfully. That is the hotel I'll be at, uh oh! Oh well, I've made it through the preop diet with an xtra large stomach so I hope avoiding the buffet is a breeze post op My layover is in MDW and only for 40 minutes. I'm hoping liquids will get me home.

That's what Moms are for: support. She probably thrilled that you decided to so this. You're in for the ride of a lifetime. I noticed that after my surgery some of the food I uses to like - I can't stomach anymore. (That was a pretty good joke!). I am alot more selective in what I choose to eat now. Surprisingly - I can eat a piece of cake and ice cream without putting on a lb. My metabolism must have changed. I eat small quantities of food every 2-3 hrs now. I feel like I eat all the time. So don't think for a minute that you'll never eat again. On the contrary- you'll be eating alot more frequently. I met a woman online on one of the forums and we got to meet face to face at the hospital. We had such a good time down there. The whole experience was fun beginning to end. So don't worry about a thing. You're in good hands!

My mom is going with me thankfully. That is the hotel I'll be at' date=' uh oh! Oh well, I've made it through the preop diet with an xtra large stomach so I hope avoiding the buffet is a breeze post op <img src='http://www.bariatricpal.com/public/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/smile.png' class='bbc_emoticon' alt='' /> My layover is in MDW and only for 40 minutes. I'm hoping liquids will get me home.[/quote']

My mom went with me to Mexicali. It was a nice having her along.

I really wasn't "feeling" food immediately postop. Sipping Water and broth were all I had in me to do. I took powders?utm_source=BariatricPal&utm_medium=Affiliate&utm_campaign=CommentLink" target="_ad" data-id="1" >unjury chicken broth powder which saved me when we were stranded in Denver.

I haven't been on this board in over a year, but I see this thread has been reactivated so wanted to put in my two cents.

I was sleeved by Dr. Kelly in March 2012. I booked directly with him and had no problems doing so. I was originally going through a Lighter Me, and then chose not to do so after the Dr. they wanted me to see after they stopped working with Dr, Kelly had some really negative issues posted on this forum. I did know about the patient death with Dr. Kelly but did my research and found many people who had been happy with their experience with him.

I have absolutely nothing negative to say about him, he came to see me several times before and after to make sure that all my questions and concerns were answered about the surgery. I felt that he honestly cared about my well being. As for my surgery, he did a great job. I had no complications, and my incisions healed really well.

Weight loss surgery is hard, don't kid yourself otherwise. You can't eat very much for quite a long time afterwards, and it takes a while to kind of return to feeling "normal". I did have my sister go with me to Tijuana so I didn't go by myself.

Anyway, just wanted to voice my opinion that Dr, Kelly is a good surgeon in my opinion and I have no reservations about recommending him to anyone who is considering surgery in Mexico.

As for my weight loss, I am down seventy pounds from my surgery. Should be more, but...that's me, not Dr. Kelly! Currently a size ten, started out at a size 18. Very happy I had the surgery, it changed my life.

Everyone has to make the right decision for themselves, but if you are considering a surgeon in Mexico, I would definitely recommend you consider Dr. Kelly.

Actually I booked directly with Lora/Dr Kelly. You get a better hotel etc that way. I'm one day post op today and starting from the airport until now I have nothing bad to say, only great things!

The hospital is better than I pictured described on here, the standard of care is excellent and Dr Kelly and his surgical team are fabulous! The nausea was hard to deal with the first 12 hours but manageable with Zofran. 16 hours later I just feel like someone beat me on my upper abdomen.

His actual website owned by him is wlsclinic.com and you can reach him or Lora at info@wlsclinic.com

I did a lot of research before I came here and I'm glad I did!

Gibson_girl, I am glad to hear you are doing well. I also had a horrible time with nausea. I always do for three or four days after any type of surgery. But, I now heard there is some sort of patch you can have your doctor prescribe for you and you start wearing it a few days before your surgery. From what I understand, it does wonders for keeping the nausea under control. I know if I ever have any type of surgery again, I am definitely going to look into it.